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Maryland Business Groups Urge Gov O'Malley to Veto Anti-Wind Bill

Maryland Business Groups Urge Gov O'Malley to Veto Anti-Wind Bill

Published 05-13-14

Submitted by Green America

Three organizations with hundreds of business members across Maryland—the American Sustainable Business Council, the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council and Green America—are urging Governor O’Malley to veto H.B. 1168, “the anti-wind bill.” The bill calls for a 15-month moratorium on wind power on the Eastern Shore. If allowed to stand, this bill would essentially halt plans for the development of the Great Bay Wind Center.

This wind center would make Maryland a leader in clean energy development and would help the state to achieve its renewable energy production goal of 20% by 2022. H.B. 1168 would halt this progress, and would result in a crucial loss of confidence and capital from investors and wind developers who would doubt Maryland’s commitment to wind energy and look to invest in other states, according to the groups.

“Many Maryland businesses recognize that advancement of renewable energy is essential to building a strong economy in Maryland and across our nation,” stated Fran Teplitz, policy director for Green America and the Green Business Network. “The Great Bay Wind Center would significantly advance clean energy, cut Maryland’s carbon pollution, create new jobs in a lower income region of the state, and increase tax revenue,” Teplitz added.

Stephen Shaff, executive director of the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council asserted, “If this bill is allowed to stand, it will have a negative impact on land-based wind production in Maryland well into the future. Local business leaders urge the Governor to build Maryland’s clean energy economy and veto HB 1168.”

Richard Eidlin, co-founder and policy director of the American Sustainable Business Council concluded, “We need to act on the latest information from the new National Climate Assessment regarding economic disruption to coastal areas. Maryland’s coastal areas are vulnerable to sea level rises and related dangers that pose a significant threat to human, environmental, and our economic well-being.“

About the Organizations:
The American Sustainable Business Council and its member organizations represent more than 200,000 businesses nationwide, and more than 325,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers and investors. The council includes chambers of commerce, trade associations and groups representing small business, investors, microenterprise, social enterprise, green and sustainable business, local living economy and women and minority business leaders. More at http://asbcouncil.org.

Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council is a business-led educational and advocacy organization whose mission is to promote sustainable business viability, awareness, and impact within the Chesapeake region (MD, DC and VA). More at www.csbcouncil.org.

Green America is a national membership organization that works to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Green America has a Green Business Network of 3,000 businesses screened for their social and environmental impacts. Green America has over 100 business members based in Maryland. More at www.GreenAmerica.org and at www.GreenBusinessNetwork.org.

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Green America

Green America

Green America is United States' leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit http://www.GreenAmerica.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

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